Common
About the A flat Dorian scale
A flat Dorian is used for funk, jazz, Celtic tunes and moody-but-groovy rock like "So What" and "Scarborough Fair". Think of it as a minor scale with a hopeful lift, thanks to its raised sixth. It is A♭ Mixolydian with the third lowered.
Its notes are A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭, F, and G♭. The formula is W H W W W H W. It is the second mode of G♭ Major.
Also called Kafi and Kharaharapriya.
A♭ Dorian draws five black keys from the piano, A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭, and G♭.
Chords in the key of A flat Dorian
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
A flat minor over C flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B flat minor over D flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C flat over E flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D flat over F (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E flat minor over G flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F diminished over A flat (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G flat over B flat (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A flat Dorian
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
A flat minor seven
B flat minor seven
C flat major seven
D flat seven
E flat minor seven
F minor seven flat five
G flat major seven
Progressions in A flat Dorian
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Common
Notes and intervals
| 1 | AbA♭ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | BbB♭ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | CbC♭ | Minor 3rd |
| 4 | DbD♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | EbE♭ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | FF | Major 6th |
| 7 | GbG♭ | Minor 7th |
| Steps | W H W W W H W |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-1-2-2-2-1-2 |
| Degrees | 1 2 ♭3 4 5 6 ♭7 |
Fingering
Suggested fingering, follows standard fingering rules
| Hand | A flat | B flat | C flat | D flat | E flat | F | G flat | A flat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Dorian in other keys
C Dorian scaleD flat Dorian scaleD Dorian scaleE flat Dorian scaleE Dorian scaleF Dorian scaleG flat Dorian scaleG Dorian scaleA Dorian scaleB flat Dorian scaleB Dorian scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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